Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c6/2. d4/2...d5/3. e5/3...c5/4. c3

Caro-Kann - Advance Variation, Botvinnik-Carls
a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/8/2ppP3/3P4/2P5/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR
Moves: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3

4. c3 · Caro-Kann - Botvinnik-Carls Defence

White’s most popular response to the Botvinnik-Carls Defence according to the Lichess database, accounting for more than half of white’s moves in the preceding position. While the move is neither the engine’s top choice, nor that of most grandmasters, it still leaves white with a small advantage. The objective of the move is to strengthen the center and enable a recapture with the pawn in the event of 4...cxd4. It is best for black to put more pressure on the d4 pawn before taking the pawn, which can best be done with the move 4...Nc6.

Theory table

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3

	4
	... Nc6
	... cxd4
	... e6

References

Wikipedia has related information at Caro-Kann.